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Stefan Tonev
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Five-star Real Madrid come from two goals down to destroy Liverpool
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Liverpool have conceded five goals in a European match at Anfield for the first time

Real Madrid, searching for their 15th trophy in the competition, came from two goals down to power past Liverpool 5-2 in a thrilling Champions League’s last-16 first leg at Anfield on Tuesday.

Six-times winners Liverpool enjoyed a flying start but then conceded five goals in a European match on home soil for the first time.

The home side needed less than four minutes to open the scoring – Mohamed Salah was given a load of time and space on the right and he crossed for Darwin Nunez, who scored with a lovely fancy flick from eight yards out.

The Reds made it 2-0 in the 14th minute when Dani Carvajal hit a 35-yard backpass to his keeper but after taking a couple of nervy touches Thibaut Courtois slipped, allowing Mohamed Salah to poke the ball past him with his 44th goal in the Champions League.

The Egyptian is now level with former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba as the African top scorer in the competition.

The visitors reduced the deficit midway through the first half when Vinicius Jr got the ball on the corner of the area and curled a beauty past Brazil team-mate Alisson.

Joe Gomez passed the ball back to Alisson and Vinicius Jr closed him down but turned his back. Alisson just booted the ball off Vinicius’ leg and it looped over the goalkeeper into the back of the net – 2:2.

Aged 22 years and 224 days, Real’s Brazilian striker became the youngest visiting player to score twice against Liverpool at Anfield in major European competition since Johan Cruyff in December 1966 for Ajax in the European Cup (19 years, 233 days).

Real took the look two minutes after the interval – Croatian playmaker Luka Modric whipped in the left-wing free-kick and Eder Militao got free to power in a header from six yards out.

It turned into disaster for Liverpool in the 55th minute when Benzema added another one after playing a one-two with Rodrygo on the edge of the area and hit a shot which took a huge deflection off Gomez.

At 35, the French striker became the oldest player to score against Liverpool at Anfield in Europe, breaking Antonio di Natale’s record in October 2012 for Udinese in the Europa League.

And that’s not all – in the 67th minute Modric stormed through the Reds midfield with ease and played it through to Vinicius Jr, who squares for Benzema. The Golden Ball winner went round Alisson and scored past about three defenders on the line.